Paint safer

ABSTRACT

A platform adapter to be removably secured to a folding support on a stepladder and provided with means to hold a paint can in place to prevent the can from toppling off when the ladder is moved or in use.

United States Patent Inventor Frederich J. Lang 16 Recana Road, New Britian, Conn. 06503 Appl. No. 858,089 Filed Sept. 15,1969 Patented June 15, 1971 PAINT SAFER 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 182/126, 182/129 Int. Cl. E06c 7/14 Field of Search 182/129,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,509,593 9/1924 Felger 211/73 1,843,513 2/1932 lnman 348/315 2,649,270 8/1953 Franks.... 248/311 3,285,557 11/1966 Reda 248/210 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Macha-do Attorney-Carl Miller ABSTRACT: A platform adapter to be removably secured to a folding support on a stepladder and provided with means to hold a paint can in place' to prevent the can from toppling off when the ladder is moved or in use.

PAINT SAFER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A stepladder is provided with a folding support which has an open position at which it extends horizontally when the ladder is in use as well as a folded position at which it is vertically inclined within the ladder.

I provide a flat plate adapter to extend horizontally and having end brackets securing the plate to the support in such manner that the plate is vertically disposed above the support. The plate has an opening through which a can of paint can be inserted and held in place, thus preventing the can from falling or tipping and spilling paint when the ladder is pushed along the floor or used in painting walls and ceiling.

OBJECTS OF TEE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to provide a paint safer which will prevent a paint can on a ladder from spilling when the ladder is moved on a floor from position to position during a paint operation.

Another object is to provide a paint safer which in no way interferes with the normal use of the ladder and which does not interfere with the collapsing of the ladder into a closed position.

Other objects are to provide a paint safer which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a ladder in open position and utilizing my invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a ladder in closed position and utilizing my invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 4 represents a paint safer according to the present invention wherein there is a frame 6 pivotally attachable to a stepladder 8 for the purpose of supporting a paint can or the like in a manner so that it cannot be tipped over and spilled.

The frame 4 comprises a pair of spaced-apart arms 10 upon which there is mounted a panel 12 serving as a platform. It is to be noted that the platform is located across one end of the arms, the opposite ends of the arms having a space 11 therebetween.

Upon the platfonn 12 there is secured a can holder 13 comprised of a flat plate 14 in parallel spaced-apart position over the platform 12, the plate being mounted upon a pair of spaced-apart two-legged brackets 18 by means of rivets 17 or the like. Each bracket has legs 19 the lower ends of which have feet secured by rivets to the platform. The plate has a circular centered opening 16 therethrough into which a paint can 26 can be inserted, the plate serving as a side support so to prevent the can to be accidentally tipped.

The arms 10 are each provided with a transverse opening 20 therethrough in axial alignment with each other so to receive a pivot pin or rivet 21 which is supported in the forelegs 22 of a step ladder 8 and about which the frame is pivotable between a retracted position as shown in FIG. 3, and an extended horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2 wherein a paint can is supported thereupon. In such utility position the end 28 of the arms abut against the underside of the uppermost step 30 of the stepladder so to limit the pivotal travel of the frame into its fully horizontal position.

It is to be noted that in a retracted position, the plate is fitted into a space 32 formed between the uppermost step 30 and the ladder platform 34 thereby permitting the stepladder to fully close, with the forelegs in parallel adjacent relation to the rearlegs 36. Thus the frame in no way projects beyond the normal limits of the retracted or closed stepladder thereby allowing it to be conveniently stored or transported on a vehicle from job to job.

Thus, there is presented a paint safer wherein a ladder may be safely pushed along a floor from position to position during the progress of a painting operation, while the paint can may remain upon the frame 6 without danger of being tipped over or fall off therefrom.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, my protection is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

Iclaim:

I. In a paint safer, the combination of a stepladder and an attachment for supporting a paint can, comprising a stepladder having a pair of forelegs and a pair of rearlegs secured pivotally at their upper ends to a top platform, said rearlegs having spaced-apart steps, means for limiting the pivotal spread of the legs when the ladder is opened for use, in combination with an attachment frame to support a paint can comprising a pair of spaced arms with front and rear ends including a platform secured between the front end of said arms with a plate having a central open for a paint can mounted parallel to and spaced from said platform, upon a pair of spaced brackets secured to the platform, said arms having aligned transverse openings through longitudinally intermediate portions thereof, said arms being positioned between said forelegs and said opening receiving pivot pins mounted in said forelegs, the rear end of said arms being dimensioned to extend under and abut the uppermost of said steps when said arms are in a horizontal operative paint can supporting position with the platform extending beyond the ladder legs, said attachment being pivotable to a nonoperative position wherein the arms lie adjacently between the legs with the platform positioned between the front and rear legs of the ladder. 

1. In a paint safer, the combination of a stepladder and an attachment for supporting a paint can, comprising a stepladder having a pair of forelegs and a pair of rearlegs secured pivotally at their upper ends to a top platform, said rearlegs having spaced-apart steps, means for limiting the pivotal spread of the legs when the ladder is opened for use, in combination with an attachment frame to support a paint can comprising a pair of spaced arms with front and rear ends including a platform secured between the front end of said arms with a plate having a central open for a paint can mounted parallel to and spaced from said platform, upon a pair of spaced brackets secured to the platform, said arms having aligned transverse openings through longitudinally intermediate portions thereof, said arms being positioned between said forelegs and said opening receiving pivot pins mounted in said forelegs, the rear end of said arms being dimensioned to extend under and abut the uppermost of said steps when said arms are in a horizontal operative paint can supporting position with the platform extending beyond the ladder legs, said attachment being pivotable to a nonoperative position wherein the arms lie adjacently between the legs with the platform positioned between the front and rear legs of the ladder. 